While the big three German luxury brands all have a performance division, Audi is the only company with two defined categories of The cream of the quattro performance crop, the RS range of Audi vehicles present the most unhindered expression of the premium German auto company’s sport engineering. Produced by subsidiary company quattro GmbH, Audi’s RS range remains unique at present time is a limited product portfolio. However, this scarce appearance of the Audi RS badge might become a thing of the past.

Debuting their RS configuration in 1994, Audi has limited quattro GmbT to the development and sale of a single vehicle model at one time. Curiously, Audi debuted the top performance line on a wagon called the RS2 Avant. Kicking the company‘s performance into a new gear, luxury car buyers craving adrenaline the Audi TT RS sports car and Audi RS3 Sportback have shown the German company’s speed plateau is big enough for multiple models. Another product included to the product range was the A5-based Audi RS5 Coupe. Taking over from the RS4 model, the RS5 Coupe was displayed to the world at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Announced for arrival in the United States market through a news release sent on June 2010, the wait is nearly over for North American Audi fans to encounter the charming RS5 Coupe.

Based on the Audi A5 introduced to the United States in 2008, the largely aluminum-sourced exterior styling receives a sharp reboot. Marrying the distinctions of classic and modern Audi aesthetic touches, a completely distinguishing profile is created for the RS5 Coupe. Flaring of the front fenders combined with the A5’s near fastback rear roofline revisits the magic stated with the Ur quattro sports car of the 1980s. Capturing the new Audi design direction first presented on the Audi A7, the blackened front grille and redesigned headlamp housings cast the premium car group’s 21st century image. The standard xenon hi-beam and LED low-beam lighting projected onto a street awaiting the Audi RS5 Coupe’s thunderous trampling. Overall 0.8 inches lower in total profile than the standard Audi A5 two-door, the RS5 Coupe rides on forged aluminum wheels within performance tires. Available for an extra cost is an Audi RS5 Coupe wheel and tire set around 20-inch rims.

While the new S6, S7 and S8 models showcased a new 4-liter TFSI V-8 power plant, the Audi RS5 Coupe is sparred on by a 4.2 liter FSI 8-cylinder engine. Borrowed from the base line of the Audi R8 supercar and similar to the engine found in the 354-horsepower Audi S5, the RS5 Coupe actually delivers the most robust display of raw performance from the V-8 block size. A hand-built powerplant incorporating improvements with a higher performance cylinder head, all-aluminum construction and gasoline direct injection, the Audi engine produces 450 horsepower alongside 317 foot-pounds of torque. The Audi RS5 Coupe’s 4.2 liter FSI V-8 is optimized to obtain maximum breathing as well as exhaust system flow. This 450-horsepower engine will be paired with an S tronic 7-speed dual clutch transmission promising near instant gear response for best performance and fuel economy.

In regards to what road characteristics Americans can expect from the Audi RS5’s is 0 to 60 mile per hour acceleration in 4.6 seconds. Depending on the request of driver’s, top speed performance can be raised from the Audi RS5 Coupe base 155 mile per hour electric limit to a more progressive 174 mile per hour benchmark. Though fuel economy numbers have yet to be published (for whatever concern it is to many premium sport car fans), the Audi RS5 Coupe features a special recuperation system to maximize the V-8 engine’s efficiency.

Featuring Audi’s all-wheel quattro drivetrain, a crown gear differential provides fast-acting wheel power distribution. Operating at a default rating of 40:60 with the rear wheels receiving the majority of the 4.2 liter FSI V-8 engine’s muscle, power can shift 70 to the front or 85 percent to the RS5 Coupe’s rear axle. Audi quattro drive with crown gear differential on the RS5 Coupe mates torque vectoring system and an electric stability program. In cases where the most aggressive track-like performance is being sought from the Audi RS5 Coupe, optional carbon ceramic brakes can be added to the vehicle.

Opening the two doors of the Audi RS5 Coupe, the sporty outer appearance is coupled with a racy inner cabin. Gripping onto a multi-function steering wheel, the driver of the RS5 Coupe is inundated by a colour driver information system. A variety of rich trim options such as carbon, aluminum, stainless steel and a glossy piano finish selectable inside of the Audi RS5 Coupe. Leather and Alcantara material upholsters the sport seating of the RS5 Coupe. Interior options available on the Audi RS5 includes MMI Navigation Plus system, Bluetooth phone and a Bang & Olufsen stereo sound system.

More detailed information on the Audi RS5 is expected as the car reaches United States shores in early 2012.